Mary, Queen of Scots 1800 - 1835

This engraving by Robert Cooper captures Mary, Queen of Scots. Notice the elaborate ruff collar framing her face, a symbol of nobility and high status during the Elizabethan era. It speaks to the cultural emphasis on presentation and the rigid social hierarchy of the time. The ruff, however, is not unique to this portrait or period. Similar neckwear can be traced back to earlier periods in different forms, like the pleated linen of the medieval era. The ruff evolved, becoming more elaborate, almost comically so at times. Think of the exaggerated versions in 16th-century Spanish portraits. Perhaps, subconsciously, the wearer sought to create distance, a barrier. It is fascinating how such a simple piece of fabric can become laden with meanings of power, identity, and even isolation as it reappears throughout history. This image, like many others, reveals how cultural memory shapes and reshapes symbols across time.